Kia has made significant headway as a brand in Australia over the past 10 years, filtering into pub and dinner conversations with affordable, robust vehicles and excellent ownership credentials. But one car still absent from the common litmus test, until now, is the Cerato small car.

Kia wants to compete with the Toyota Corolla, Mazda3 and Hyundai i30/Elantra with the facelifted Cerato launched this week. Only a few years ago it was ranked a lowly 13th for outright sales in Australia's most popular segment; Kia is now staunch in the belief it has a genuine top five contender.

Kia has big hopes pinned on its updated Cerato. Photo: Supplied.

The South Korean manufacturer has effectively simplified the Cerato range in a bid to appease buyers. A 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine now powers all four variants (S, S Premium, Si and SLi) in the range. A more comprehensive suite of standard and optional safety equipment also finds its way onto the updated car, along with new technology such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Kia says it has introduced the changes while holding the price on every model except the flagship SLi, along with the continued incentive of a seven year factory warranty. The Si variant starts at $19,990 drive away in manual or automatic guise, the S Premium starts at $24,990 drive away, the Si at $28,990 drive away and the SLi at $32,490 drive away. The caveat is that basic features such as a reversing camera, colour touch screen and satellite navigation require a further $500 investment on the base model automatic, and aren't available whatsoever on the lone base model manual.

The Cerato's safety suite includes full airbag coverage, ABS brakes and stability control as before, options that can be complemented by blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert on Si variants and lane departure warning and forward collision warning on SLi variants. There is still no automated emergency braking function available.

Even so, the Cerato makes a positive first impression. A more prominent front grille lends more street presence, complemented by new headlights and a refreshed lower air intake. Changes extend to the rear of the sedan, which sports tweaked tail lamps, while the hatch is virtually unchanged from the original third generation model first launched in 2013.

Inside, new seat materials combine with soft-touch dashboard and door trims, light revisions to the centre fascia and console hood. As before the well-proportioned rear seat opens via split-folding seats to a 482-litre boot in sedan guise, or a 385-litre offering in the hatch. Both house a full-size spare.

Bolstering the well resolved cabin are bottle-friendly door pockets and a binnacle at the base of the dash containing a nifty sliding door to stow away valuables (the USB plug is also housed in this space).The driver's seat is well positioned except when electric controls are in place, elevating the driver's noggin closer to the roof. Another ergonomic bugbear is the unusually thick A-pillar, which can impede mid-corner vision.

The Cerato impresses with cheap and cheerful driving dynamics that are well suited to the daily commute and touring alike.

Kia Australia revisited steering, suspension and damping properties on both hatch and sedan variants, turning out a more agile and mature ride and handling package. The Cerato isn't quite in the same league as the Ford Focus or Volkswagen Golf for outright dynamics, but it doesn't shy away from a twisty road either.

Body control is admirable for this price point, while bump suppression is well isolated on the base model car's 16-inch steel wheels. The steering, a noted criticism of the predecessor, is more communicative thanks to added responsiveness and accuracy, but it is beset with inconsistent weighting around the ratio and a vagueness at open highway speeds that requires minute corrections.

The 112kW/192Nm 2.0-litre engine makes more sense in base model guise than the 1.8-litre unit that it replaces, bringing willing response from lower in the rev count along with improved fuel economy (7.1L/100km combined). The six-speed automatic plays its part in this regard, with smooth, well-timed shifts, though it can be a bit slow to react during enthusiastic driving. The manual offers a light shift action and clean throw, along with a light but late clutch take-up.

The Cerato adds niceties such as rear air vents and keyless entry and start on higher spec models, though the added investment doesn't extend to ride comfort. A major trade-off on the flagship SLi variant is a busy, bordering on firm ride courtesy of its larger 17-inch alloy wheels. Higher-spec models also employ the same Nexen rubber found on base models that is prone to washing out through faster corners.

Even so, the Cerato feels more mature and appealing than before. The latest changes certainly extend its appeal but, as before, value and ownership credentials are the South Korean's biggest drawcards.